Early deficit too much for Lady Cats

Staff report

RIO RANCHO — It was a game of runs early. Unfortunately for Clovis High’s girls, Valencia had one more run that they did.

The Lady Jaguars used a pair of 11-0 runs in the first half and went on to a 52-37 victory over the Lady Wildcats in Thursday’s quarterfinal round of the Mel Otero Invite.

Clovis (2-4) had its own 9-0 run, but that came after Valencia had scored the game’s first 11 points. The Lady Jaguars added their second run to break away from a three-point lead in the second quarter.

CHS coach Jeff Reed said his team’s reputation — the Lady Cats have averaged around 25 wins a year during his first seven seasons at the helm — preceded them.

“Valencia was ready to play us,” Reed said. “Their coach told me before the game that they had a lot of respect for our program, and they were excited to play us.”

Reed was impressed with his team’s early rally.

“It was not good at the start,” he said. “We made a great comeback and I thought, ‘OK, we’ll settle down,’ but the second quarter came and we just really melted down.”

Valencia held the Lady Cats to three points in the period and took a 28-12 lead into halftime.

Clovis will face Albuquerque High, a 53-29 loser to Rio Rancho on Thursday, in today’s consolation semifinals. The Lady Jaguars face Rio Rancho in the late championship semifinal at 7 p.m.

Junior guard Destinee Vigil scored 22 points for Valencia, including a trio of three pointers. Senior center Raeanne Herrera added 10 points.

Sophomore post Mimi Coleman, who battled Herrera in the post most of the way, led Clovis with 10 points.